Harry Redknapp has accused the most senior FA officials of lacking the necessary qualifications to select the best England manager, declaring: ‘I wouldn’t trust them to show me a good manager if their lives depended on it.’

In his explosive new autobiography, serialised in Sportsmail this week, Redknapp says:

England, who are this week preparing
for crucial back-to-back World Cup qualifiers, are painful to watch and
must come up with a better ‘blueprint’ before the World Cup.

Senior players, among them England captain Steven Gerrard, texted him to say they wanted him to succeed Fabio Capello.

Hitting out: Harry Redknapp says England have become boring to watch

He was so convinced the job was his he had Brendan Rodgers lined up as his deputy.

Some players dread playing for England, revealing individuals he managed at Tottenham would ask him to lie about an injury and pull them out of a particular squad.

Redknapp also suggests that the
£16million Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would have demanded in
compensation is the reason the FA failed even to interview him for the
England job.

Backing: Redknapp claims that Steven Gerrard sent him a message backing him to get the England job

Hodgson was appointed by now former chairman David Bernstein, managing director Alex Horne, director of football Sir Trevor Brooking and Club England managing director Adrian Bevington.

Redknapp writes: ‘I wouldn’t trust the FA to show me a good manager if their lives depended on it. What clubs have they ever run? Who do they speak to who really knows the game?

The chosen one: Roy Hodgson was appointed England manager ahead of Redknapp

‘Everyone said I was the people’s choice. All the senior players seemed to be up for me. I got quite a few text messages at the time from players saying they would love me to manage England: Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry. But the FA went for Roy Hodgson - a man who is more their cup of tea.’

Redknapp says England ‘can be painful to watch’. ‘I know from some of the players that it is not an enjoyable experience for them, either. When I was at Tottenham I had plenty of players who said, “I don’t want to play, pull me out of the squad, I don’t want to go”.’

Plenty of touches: Andy Carroll received more passes from Joe Hart than any other England player at Euro 2012

Now in charge of a QPR side riding high in the Championship, Redknapp, who wrote the book with Daily Mail chief sports writer Martin Samuel, reflects on England’s display against Italy in Euro 2012. ‘When your best pass completion statistic is from Joe Hart to Andy Carroll… you know you’ve got a problem.’